30 Nov 2009
The risk of osteoarthritis in middle aged men and women may be increased by taking too much physical activity.
This is according to researchers at the University of California, US, whose findings were presented at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
During a study of 236 middle aged participants, a link was discovered between physical activity levels and the frequency and extent of knee damage.
"Our data suggest that people with higher physical activity levels may be at greater risk for developing knee abnormalities and, thus, at higher risk for developing osteoarthritis," explained research fellow Dr Christoph Stehling.
"In addition, cartilage defects diagnosed in active people were more severe."
Common damage included cartilage lesions, bone marrow edema and ligament lesions.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects approximately 27 million people in the US.
The disease can strike at any age, but is more common in older people. More women than men aged 55 and over tend to have arthritis.
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